Fuel burner valve and cleaner construction



May 1, 1956 c. BRAMMING FUEL BURNER VALVE AND CLEANER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1950 1 N V EN TOR: gwlfizam fizziiy,

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ATTORNEYS.

May 1, 1956 7 c. BRAMMING FUEL BURNER VALVE AND CLEANER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1950 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent FUEL BURNER VALVE AND CLEANER CONSTRUfJTION Carl Brammiug,- Anderson, Ind assignor to Aladdin l ndustries, Incorporated, Nashville, Tenn.,. a corporation of Illinois Application August 17, 1950, Serial No. 180,063 3 Claims. or. 158-420) This invention relates to an improved burner for liquid fuel, such as leaded gasoline, which frequently contains constituents that inherently tend to clog the ports through which the combustible fuel is discharged and to an im proved tank construction for a liquid fuel burner.

In stoves, lanterns, and other hydrocarbon burning de vices, liquid fuel is vaporized during normal operation and in the vapor state travels through a minute port for combustion. It is necessary to use a small port for this purpose, since the rate of fuel flow must not cause loss of pressure or an excessive rate of combustion. However, gasolines (usually intended for operation of motor vehicles) contain various fractions of unsaturated hydrocarbons which form heavy saturated molecules when heated to high temperature and tetraethyl lead as an-antiknock. compound. When such gasoline is used. in a gasoline burning device such as,astove. or lantern, the tetraethyl lead forms lead oxide and the heavy saturated mole cules of the fractions form a sticky deposit in the fuel carrying passages with the consequence that the small ports become clogged and the burner is. rendered inoperative.

While this problem is most'aoute in the case of gasoline vapor burners when gasoline containing various fractions of oils and tetraethyl lead is used, clogging also occurs when other fuels are used and in other types of burners and reducesthe reliability of the burner.

Consequently it is necessary during. operation to clean such burners frequently by means. of a pricker device. However, such cleaningaction usually results inextinguishing the burner flame while the pricker is in the discharge device of the burner. In accordance with the present invention clogging, of the fuel discharge orifices in a burner is prevented by mechanical cleaning action inherent in the use of the burner. Moreover, means is provided to clean the orifices at the will of the user at any time during operation of the burner without extinguishing the flame Briefly, this is accomplished by providing a pair of fuel discharge orifices and a reciprocating member with a pair of cleaning pins operable to pierce the ports alternately as themember is reciproated. When the main fuel control valve is moved between closedand open position, the member executes a plurality ofreciprocating.

movements and thereby cleans the orifices. When the valve is in the open position, limited motions thereof, not suflici'ent to alter the fuel supply, also impartport cleaning movements to the reciprocating member and effect supplementary cleaning. action which does not interrupt the operation of the burner. because one of thedischarge orifices of the burner is always open and maintains the flame while the other orifice isbeing cleaned.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved burner for liquid fuels.

Another object of the present invention. is to provide an improved: burner for liquid fuel in which. the cleaning operation is inherent in the operation of the valve duringnormal operation.

Still. another object of. the presentinvention is to provide an improved burner for fuel containing clogging constituents with means that may be actuated to clean the fuel ports during operation of the burner without interrupting operation of the burner.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a completely self-contained non-clogging burner wherein effective and reliable cleaning is achieved with out moving parts external to the housing which defines the fuel chamber.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid fuel burner with means that effect mechanical cleaning of the fuel passages while avoiding. complicated structures and control elements other than required to operate the main fuel shut-off valve.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with other objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an axial cross-sectional View of a liquid fuel gasoline vapor stove constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is. a cross-sectional. view of the stove of Figure l taken along the axis 2-2, Figure l;

t Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the valve portion of the structure of Figure 1 showing the pin-carrying carriage in one extreme position; Q

Figure 4 is a view like Figure 3 but showing the pincarryingrcarriage in the other extreme position;

Figure 5 isaan enlarged crosssectional view through axis 5--5', Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the stove of Figure 1;v and,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through axis 7--7, Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 1, the stove comprises a some- What disk shaped tank T which is of cylindrical shape having. a relatively small axial extent and has convex side portions lit and 12 and an annular intermediate member or plate 14 sandwichedtherebetween, thus defining. a genlar groove a to receive the end of the tube to, fits wit-hin the overhanging portions of the cap 18 to telescope snugly over both the exterior and the interior of the tube 1E5 as shown. A gasket 22 of deformable material (such as cork) is sandwiched between the annular groove of the cover 20 and the end of the tube to to form a tight seal as the cap 18 is turned tight.

Opposite and inalignment with the tube 7.6 the tank T receives an elongated wick tube 2 which, as shown in Figure 5 has opposed parallel sides with semicircular connecting ends. A wick 25 (Figure 1) of glass wool strands or the like extends from a point below a housing 26, received in the upper portion of this tube to the bottom of the tank T. Tube 2 -5 is permanently fastened in sealed relation to the tank T by a bead of solder or the like indicated at Ma, Figure 1. At its upper end the tube 24 receives snugly a flange portion 28 of the housing. 26 which, as will be described in further detail hereafter, defines a fuel vapor chamber of the burner. This portionr28 conforms to the shape of the tube Ti t andiitssnug 1y therein. A member. in the form of a plate 30 lies immediately above the fiangeportion of the housing 26 and is secured thereto by a peened bead 26a. The plate 30 is secured permanently to the end of the tube 24 by a weld or similar means, such as the welded bead 30a.

The plate 30 is not of circular shape but instead extends outwardly in a pair of diametrically opposed wings, seen in cross-section in Figure l. The end of each wing of the plate 30 has an upstanding hook-shaped lug 30!) which has a threaded opening 30c to receive one of a pair of screws 32 These screws are received by the corresponding unthreaded openings of a burner bowl 34 and a flame spreader 36 to secure these parts in place. These parts are shown in plan view in Figure 6.

The housing 26 has an upwardly extending circular portion 38 oriented in line with the tube 24. This portion of the housing has a circular bore ,or fuel chamber 40 which is coaxial with the tube 24 and at its lower end communicates with the interior of the tube 24 through a fuel intake opening 40a, Figure 2. The tube 24 has an enlargement or dimple 24a, Figure 2, which clears opening 40a to provide an unobstructed passage for fuel. The open top end of the bore 40 is closed by an inverted cup-shaped burner cap 42 which fits snugly against the upper lip thereof. The cup 42 is drawn tight by a threaded collar 44 having an inwardly directed top flange portion 44a which overhangs and engages a corresponding shoulder 42a of the cap 42. These collar 44 has a lower or skirt portion 44b which is threadedly received upon a threaded upper portion 40b of the housing 26.

The cap 42 defines a cylindrical cavity 43 (Fig. 3) therein, extending upwardly from the bore 40 of the housing 26 and, in addition has a pair of opposed aligned orifices 46 through which fuel passes for combustion. These orifices are of size determined by the operation characteristics of the stove and'the limiting size of the smallest hole that can be effectively manufactured. In a practical construction for use with gasoline, the orifices might be of the order of 12 to 14 thousandths of an inch in diameter. The upper end of the cavity is level with the upper element of each cylindrical orifice 46. This cavity 43 is partially occupied by a generally cylindrical block 50 which at its bottom end forms a flange 50a which fits between the cap 42 and the lip of the portion 38 of the housing.

An elongated transverse rectangular passage or slot 48 extends diametrically across the block 50 and is oriented in the direction between the orifices 46. A rectangular reciprocating member or carriage 52 is received in this passage and conforms to its shape for sliding movements therein. An elongated pricker pin 54 is reecived on the upper portion of this member in alignment with the openings 46, this pin being of such length that when the carriage is in the intermediate position of Figure 1, it is retracted or spaced from each of openings 46 and when it is in the extreme positions of Figures 3 and 4, it pierces completely one of orifices 46 or the other.

At its bottom, the reciprocating member 52 has an opening or cup-shaped recess 52a which receives the headed end portion 56a of a rocker bar or lever 56. This end portion fits in an elongated rectangular entrance slot 48a extending down from the slot 48 defined by the block 52, the entrance slot 48a being of less length and width than the slot 48. The slot 48a constrains the rocker bar 56 to movements in a plane parallel to the direction of motion of the carriage 52.

The port or opening 40a acts as a fuel intake port to a chamber 40 and cooperates with the shut off valve 58 to control admission of fuel to chamber 40. This shut off valve is of cylindrical shape with a pointed end 53a which is received in the opening 40a and seats against the margin thereof to prevent passage of fuel therethrough. The opposite end of the valve 58 carries threads 58b which are received by the complementary threads 60a of a tube 60, the latter extending outwardly from the vertical tube 24 and being held thereagainst by a snug friction fit in the bore 26a of the housing 26. The

tube 60 also receives a shaft or stem 62 which at its end portion 62a fits in a bore 580 in the valve 58. At its opposite end the shaft 62 extends in a handle portion 62b which is accessibleto the operator for rotating the crank and a valve 58 to shift the latter into and out of seated position on the port 40a.

The end of the tube 60 is closed by the cap 64 which is threadedly secured thereto. Elongated sleeve 66, washers 68 and 72, and packing 70 are interposed between this cap and the valve 58, sleeve 66 being held against shifting movements to the left as seen in Figure 2 by the threads 60a which are of less diameter than the sleeve 66.

Axial shifting motions are imparted to the valve 58 without corresponding axial shifting motions of the shaft 62 by reason of the lost motion connection between these parts. The structure for this purpose is shown in Figure 7, a cross-sectional view along the axis 77, Figure 2. As will be evident from this view, the end of the valve 58 is slotted to define a pair of forked portions 58d which straddle wings 62c formed on the shaft 62. These wings engage the forked portions of the valve 58 to cause the latter to rotate in unison with rotations imparted to the shaft 62. However, the valve is free to slide in response to the shifting motions associated with the action of threads 58d while the crank is held against axial movements by the frictional grip of the packing 70. Conse: quently, the crank does not partake of the shifting move ments of the, valve.

The shut off valve 58 has an eccentric portionSSe, Figure 1, which is in alignment with the rocker bar or] lever'56. Immediately above the valve 58 a pin 74 extends across the chamber 40 in parallel relation to the valve. As seen in Figure l, the bottom end of the lever 56 has a longitudinal slot defining a pair of forkedarms 56b which straddle the pin 74 and the eccentric 58s.

These arms fit relatively snugly about the pin 74 and the eccentric 582 so that as the valve 58 is rotated by the shaft 62, the lever 56 executes rocking motions in accordance with the movements of the eccentric 58a.

The rocking motions of the lever 56 require corresponding reciprocating transational motions of the carriage 52 by reason of the pivotal connection defined by the headed end 56a of the lever 56 and the recess 52a formed in the carriage. At one extreme position, that of Figure 3, the pricker pin 54 enters and extends through one of the open orifice 46, thereby cleaning that port of obstructing deposits. At the other extreme position, that of Figure 4, the other end of the pricker pin 54 enters and extends through the other orifice 46 to clean it. 7

As shown in Figure 2, the eccentric 58e is made of sufficient axial extent to permit shifting movements of the valve 58 without tending to tilt the lever 56 out of the position as seen in Figure 2.

In operation ofthe humor of the present invention,

any one of many constructions well known in the art, makes a limited amount of fuel available at its tip end' 7 6a for direct ignition to produce a flame directed against the upper end of the tube 24, and the parts attached thereto. After vaporization begins, the shaft 62 is rotated to open the valve 58 from the closed non-operating condition, thus causing vaporized fuel to enter the chamber 40 and to issue from the ports 46.

During the rotation of the valve 58 to the open position, the valve executes many complete rotations, such as, for example, six. Each rotation imparts to the lever 56 a corresponding oscillating rocking motion and drives the reciprocating member 52 in like movement, thus causing each end of the pricker pin,54 to enter the corresponding orifice 46. This automatically cleans the orifices and removes any deposit that may have formed weaved When the valve 58 is backed oil to an open position, the vaporized fuel isuing from either or both orifices 46 may be ignited to start normal heating operation. Since both ports are open when the handle d2?) is either in the up or the down position the operator can assure opening of both ports by allowing the handle to remain only in one or the other of these positions.

When the valve 58 is closed to extinguish the burner, the lever 50 executes a similar number of oscillations to cause the pricker pin 54 to pierce the orifices 16 and thereby clean the same. This gives effective cleaning action at the time the burner is shut down, thus acting on any deposits before they have had time to cake or otherwise solidify.

If the burner operates for a very long time period without going through the starting process with the incident automatic cleaning of the orifices t6, the operator may clean the device without reignition by rotating the shaft 62 by an amount short of that required to close valve 58.

Such rotation may conveniently be of the order of one revolution and return, since the operator is assured by the rotation of causing the pin 54- to enter orifices twice. The burner does not lose ignition during this time because one port is always burning and serves to light the other when the pricker pin 54 is withdrawn.

When the available fuel supply is exhausted, the tank T may be refilled by simply inverting it, opening the cap 18 and closure 29, and then pouring the fuel in. This process does not require disassembly of any operating parts of the burner, since the filling cap is located away from these parts. Moreover, any sediment in the fuel tends to collect in the well formed by the tube 16 and may be easily removed at the time the tank is filled.

It will also be noted that since the filling outlet is on the bottom of tank T, it is unnecessary to design the burner parts to avoid interference, and in addition, the wick 25 is accessible through the filling opening so that tube 24 may be permanently attached without obstructing access to the wick. The wick can easily be replaced through the tube 16 which, as shown, is aligned with the tube 24 into which the wick is inserted.

While I have shown and described a specific application of the burner of the present invention to a heating stove, it will of course he understood that many alternative embodiments may he used without departing from the true spirit and scope of my invention, including, particularly, embodiments suitable for use as space heaters and lanterns. I therefore by the appended claims intend to cover all such modifications and alternative constructions as fall within the true spirit and scope thereof.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a burner for liquid fuel, the improvement comprising a housing defining a chamber with a pair of oppositely disposed aligned orifices through which fuel is discharged, a reciprocating carriage having a pair of oppositely directed pricker pins alternately operable to enter the orifices as the carriage is moved between extreme positions and in the intermediate position being Withdrawn from the orifices, a fuel intake port in the housing and having an axis oriented transversely to the direction of motion of the member, a valve extending within the chamber and adapted in the closed position to seat against the intake port, screw means associated with the valve operable to shift the same toward and away from the intake port upon many rotations thereof, the valve having an eccentric portion Within the confines of the chamber, a pin extending across the chamber in generally parallel relation to the valve, and a link having a head portion received in the carriage and a forked portion pivoted on the last pin and in straddling engagement with the eccentric portion of the valve.

2. In a burner for liquid fuel, the improvement comprising a housing defining a chamber with a pair of aligned oppositely disclosed orifices through which fuel is discharged, a reciprocatin carriage having a pair of oppositely directed pricker pins alternately operable to enter the orifices as the carriage is moved between extreme positions and in the intermediate position being withdrawn from the orifices, a fuel intake port in the housing and having an axis oriented transversely to the direction of motion of the carriage, a valve extending within the chamber and adapted in the closed position to seat against the intake port, screw means associated with the valve operable to shift the same toward and away from the intake port upon many rotations thereof, the valve having an eccentric portion within the confines of the chamber, a pin extending across the chamber in generally parallel relation to the valve, and a link having a head portion received in the carriage and a forked portion pivoted on the last pin and in straddling engagement with the eccentric portion of the valve, the valve including an indicating element operable to assume an observable fixed position when the reciprocating member is in the intenmediate position.

3. in a burner for liquid fuel, the improvement comprising a housing defining a chamber with a pair of oppositely disposed aligned orifices for discharging fuel, a member reciprocably mounted in said chamber and having a pair of oppositely directed pricker pin elements alternately operable to enter said orifices as said member is moved between extreme positions and in the intermediate position being withdrawn from said orifices, a fuel intake port in said housing, a valve rotatably and translatably mounted in. said chamber along an axis generally parallel to the direction of movement of said member for seating against and closing said port, said valve having rotatable screw means connected thereto for shifting said valve toward and away from said port upon rotation of and said valve, said valve having an eccentric portion disposed in said chamber, a lever disposed in said chamberand having pivotal supporting means mounted in said housing generally parallel to the axis of said valve, said lever having one end portion connected to said member and an opposite forked end position straddling said eccentric portion of said valve for reciprocating said member when said valve is rotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 534,911 Parker Feb. 26, 1895 692,856 Jackman Feb. 11, 1902 737,999 Cannom Sept. 1, 1903 936,206 Wyatt Oct. 5, 1909 960,475 Wright June 7, 1910 1,003,738 Harris Sept. 19, 1911 1,687,606 Clefton Oct. 16, 1928 1,735,182 Rueppel Nov. 12, 1929 1,978,772 Tiberg Oct. 30, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,517 Great Britain Oct. 3, 1914 293,065 Italy Feb. 9, 1932 170,986 Germany Apr. 10, 1952 

